The Suffixes {-(V)wčAn} and {+čAn} in the Karachay-Balkar Language: Structure and Function

Adiloğlu Adilhan; Erbay Fatih; Küçükballı Fatih Numan

doi:10.22162/2619-0990-2025-81-5-1134-1146

The Suffixes {-(V)wčAn} and {+čAn} in the Karachay-Balkar Language: Structure and Function

Adiloğlu Adilhan, Erbay Fatih, Küçükballı Fatih Numan

https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2025-81-5-1134-1146

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Abstract

Goals. The study compares the suffix {+čAn} used as a noun derivational suffix in most Turkic languages ― and the suffix {-čAn} which forms participles and is used as a verb conjugation suffix in the Khakas and Shor languages, with an emphasis on the relationship of these suffixes to the suffix {-(V)wčAn} which is used as a verb conjugation suffix in the Karachay-Balkar language. The structure and origin of the suffix {-(V)wčAn} in Karachay-Balkar is then discussed. Results. When analyzed in the context of historical sound events, it is clearly understood that the suffix {-(V)wčAn} in Karachay-Balkar undoubtedly arose as a result of a merger of the suffix {-(V)G} which was used to form nouns from verbs in the Old Turkish period ― and the suffix {+čAn} which forms nouns from nouns and whose exact time of emergence cannot be determined. In brief, it is possible to explain this as {-(V)G} > {-(V)w}+{+čAn} > {-(V)wčAn} with the historical {G}>{w} sound change seen in many Turkic languages. Based on this information, the development of the suffix {-čAn} which is used as a verb conjugation suffix in Khakas and Shor can also be clarified. The analysis into Karachay-Balkar-language literary writings shows that the suffix {-(V)wčAn} is used only as a verb conjugation suffix, losing its noun-forming and participle-forming features. The work also addresses the participle-forming phase of this suffix (before it became a verb-conjugation suffix) and identifies traces of this function in present-day discourses. As a verb conjugation suffix, this suffix is mostly used in expressions in the simple present tense with simple and compound verb conjugations and sometimes, particularly in conditional sentences, as a tense modal expressing the present continuous tense.

Keywords

modern Turkic languages, Karachay-Balkar language, Khakas language, Shor language, {+čAn}/{-čAn} and {-(V)wčAn} suffixes, noun formation, verb conjugation

About the Authors

Adiloğlu Adilhan

Akdeniz University, Faculty of Letters, Turkish Language and Literature Department (Campus, Dumlupınar Blvd., Pınarbaşı, 07070 Konyaaltı, Antalya, Republic of Türkiye)
Турция

PhD (Philology), Associate Professor

Erbay Fatih

Selcuk University, Faculty of Letters, Turkish Language and Literature Department (369, Yeni Istanbul St., Alaeddin Keykubat Campus, Akademi, 42130 Selçuklu, Konya, Republic of Türkiye)
Турция

PhD (Philology), Associate Professor

Küçükballı Fatih Numan

PhD (Philology), Associate Professor

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Review

For citations:

Adilhan A., Fatih E., Fatih Numan K. The Suffixes {-(V)wčAn} and {+čAn} in the Karachay-Balkar Language: Structure and Function. Oriental Studies. 2025;18(5):1134-1146. https://doi.org/10.22162/2619-0990-2025-81-5-1134-1146

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